Clamp



- "Feb. 14, 1928. 1,658,988

A. C. HOPKINS CLAMP Filed Sept. 13, 1926 INVENTO]? flrfhur C. Hopkm;

A TTORNE Y8 Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

ARIHURC. HorKINsgoF NILES, MICHIGAN, [Assren'on To n1;Trotter. STANDARDcoMrnNY, or NrLEs,' vucHreAn. 7

' Application filed September 1a, 1926." Serial No;135,271.

Theinain object of this invention is to provide an improved steeringclamp for locking the steering wheels of towed motor vehicles which mayremoved and is simple in structure.

A further object is to provide a steering clamp which is readily adaptedto different sizes and makes of motor vehicles. J Objects pertaining'todetails and econo 'mies of myinventionwil]. definitely appear from thedetailed description to follow. The

in; the claims.

invention is clearly defined and pointed out A structure embodying thefeatures oztlmy' invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing fornnug a part oftlns application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a motor vehicle with one ofmy-improved steering clamps in operative position there on, only suchparts of the vehicle being shown as are deemed necessary to show themanner of'using the clamp, and these parts I are shown conventionally.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section on line 2-2of Fig. Fig. 3 is an elevation looking from the left in Fig. 1, afragment of spring and of a steering spindle-connecting"rod being showninoperative relation to the clamp.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the adjustable clamp member with the pivotedclamping bolt extended and partially broken away.

Fig. '5 is a top view of the clamp with the adjustable jaw or clampmembers .removed. v

Referring to the drawing my improved clamp comprises an L shaped mainbody member 1, the horizontal arm of which constitutes a relativelyfixed jaw member 2 and the vertical arm afork member 3. The body member1 has a non-circular transverse opening 4 at the angle thereof throughwhich the supporting arm of the fork member 6 is arranged. The arm 5 issecured in the opening by means of the set screw 7 This enables theadjustment of the forks to engage some fixed part of the chassis of. a

motor vehicle as the spring indicated at 8.

The adjustable jaw member 9 is supported to coact with the fixed jawmember 2 by means of the bolts 10 and 11, the bolt 10 being arrangedthrough the opening 12 in the clamp member 2 and the opening 13 in bequickly applied and the clamp member 9.. "An: adjustingnut 1 lat isprovided for this bolt.

.ii llhe clamping bolt 1.1 is; pivoted the clamp inembei'" 9..andisadaptcd to-be engaged with the open slot 16 in the end of thefixedaw-member. a clamping nut-1 17 being prov ded. Tlns pern nts thecreadyengagement and disengagement of'the clamp,

with the steering spindle connecting rod as I cml'na Fig; 1. I haveillustrated my improvements as used on the type of vehicles-havingsprings mounted. longitudinally of the 'vef types of vehicles theclampis inverted and the forks engage with a radius rod, the forks pbeing made adjustable "to facilitate engagem'ent; in fact, the forkmember 6 may be hicle on the front axle. On certain other quicklyremovedand replaced in applying and removing the clamp. Having thusdescribed my invention what ters Patent is I claim as new and dcsire'tosecure by Let- 1. A steering clamp for motor' vehicles comprisinganangled body member one arm of which constitutes a relatively fixedsteering spindle connecting rod clamp member I and the other a forkmember adapted to engage a relatively fixed. part of a vehicle chassis,there being a transverse opening at the angle of said body member, an adustable fork member having an arm slidable through said opening ln'stlldbody member, an ad ustable fork member having an arm slidable throughsaid opening in. saidbody member, a. set-screw for securing saidadustable form member in its ad ustedpositions, an adjustable clampmemberfsaid' clamp members having opposed transverse notches in theirfaces, a clamping bolt arrangedthrough the inner endof said clampmembers and provided with arfadjusting nut, and a second clampingboltpivotally mounted on the outer end of the adjustable clamp member andprovided with anadjusting nut, said clamp member having an open 1 slotat its outer end to permit the engagement and disengagement of saidpivoted clamping bolt therewith.

2. A steering clamp for motor vehicles comprising an angled body memberone arm of which constitutes a relatively fixed steering spindleconnecting rod clamp member and the other a fork member adapted toengage a relatively fixed part of a vehicle chassis, there being atransverse opening at the angle of said body member, an adjustable forkmember having an arm slidable through said opening in said body member,a set screw for securing said adjustable fork member in its adjustedpositions, an adjustable clamp member, and clamping bolts for said clampmembers.

. 3.4% steering clamp for motor vehicles comprising an angled bodymember one arm of which constitutes a relatively fixed steer ing spindleconnecting rod clamp member and the other a fork member adapted toengage a relatively fixed part of a vehicle chassis, an adjustable for]:member adjustably mounted on said body member, an adjustable clampmember, a clamping bolt arranged through the inner end of said clampmembers and provided with an adjusting nut, and a second clamping boltpivotally mounted on the outer end of the adjustable clamp member andprovided Witn'an adjust-' mg nut,,said clamp'member having'an open slotat its outer end to permit the engagement and disengagement of'saidpivoted clamping bolt therewith.

4. A steering clamp for motor vehicles 30 5. A steering clamp for motorvehicles 40 comprising a pair of clamp members adapted to engage thesteering spindle connecting rod of a motor vehicle, one of said clampmembers being provided With an upwardly projecting fixed fork member,and a 'coacting spring engaging fork member mounted on one of said clampmembers for lateral zuljustment relative to the fixed fork member.

In Witness WhereofI have hereunto set my hand.

ARTHUR C. HOPKINS.

